Global health leaders say the world needs to rethink how it approaches health, arguing that outdated systems, narrow thinking, and lack of coordination are slowing progress at a time of growing challenges.

Speaking on the Global Health Matters podcast, Axel Pries, president of the World Health Summit, told host Dr Gary Aslanyan that improving health outcomes will require broader cooperation across sectors, stronger communication, and a shift toward prevention.

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Pries said it was “clear that we needed politics, civil society and also the private sector.” He argued that global health can no longer be driven by governments and medical professionals alone, and that progress depends on open collaboration between actors with different interests.

While concerns remain, especially around the private sector, he said these partnerships are key to turning research into real-world results.

He also pointed to shifting global power, saying institutions created after World War II need to adapt to a more multipolar world. Countries like India, Brazil, and those across Africa should have a bigger role in shaping global health. At the same time, he said core values, especially a shared commitment to health equity, must stay the same.

Pries also highlighted challenges in how global health is communicated. Too often, the term is misunderstood as a niche issue affecting distant regions, rather than something that directly impacts everyday life.

“It’s everything, everywhere. It’s at our doorstep,” Pries said.

Looking ahead, he called for greater engagement from finance and political leaders, and a stronger focus on prevention rather than crisis response.Without that shift, he warned, health systems will remain reactive rather than resilient.

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Image Credits: Global Health Matters podcast.